Jul 14 Planning a Date Night & Better Mom Monday's Link-up!

It's not that we don't enjoy being Moms, but having a night alone on a date with your husband is an absolute wonderful experience! When is the last time you spent a night out alone with your husband? Can you even remember?

When I hear women talking about this, one of the complaints I hear most is that they don't have the money to pay a babysitter, especially on a regular basis. But, you don't have to have money to spend quality time alone with your husband. Here are some ideas for you to think about when trying to work out a special night with your handsome hubby.

Finding someone to watch your kids:

Depending on the age of your kids, you can get an experience teenager or college student at a reasonable rate

Perhaps you have family close by, ask them to come over and watch your kids

If you don't have the money to hire a babysitter, why not swap watching each others kids. One week, you go out. The next week, they go out.

Know of a gym or store that offers free child care {like Ikea}, why not go on a short date and hang out with your hubby while the kids play?

Share a babysitter with another family - unless there are way too many kids - consider this if you have 2-4 kids between the two of you.

Put the kids to bed and have a "late night" date in your bedroom {lock the door and let kids know to not disturb unless it's an emergency} and have a special dessert and coffee date.

If your kids are in school, why not have a lunch date with your hubby?

Be creative

Now, once you've found a night and a sitter, set up what you need for your kids:

Have a schedule for your sitter of what time they usually eat, play, bathe, or head to bed

Have the sitter {if it's the first time with them} come over 15 minutes early so you can show them around your home and explain things

If you are bringing your kids to someone else's house for swapping, try to do so earlier in the evening so that you can still get your kids to bed at a decent hour -- maybe have a day date. Also, be sure to let other parents know of programs/creatures your child would be afraid of watching if they watch a video.

If you're running late in getting home, be sure to communicate that with your sitter.

There's no rule that you must have a date every week or your marriage will fall apart, but I guarantee that having something on a semi-regular basis, at least, will improve your marriage. You will look forward to it. You will have time to talk things out, plan future family things, talk about how to work out your child's behavior problems, talk about whatever you want together. It's precious time. I enjoy spending time with my hubby - that's why I married him - and when I'm alone on a date with him, I can remember all the wonderful reasons why I love him so much and married him even more because it's so special. When is the last time you had a date with your hubby? If it's been a long time, what are you going to do today to make that happen?

So now it is time to LINK-UP and join the party!!!!

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